JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner", was planning a future with the girlfriend he is accused of shooting dead this week,Do we have a thread on this?

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner", was planning a future with the girlfriend he is accused of shooting dead this week,Do we have a thread on this?

The bat, which had “lots of blood” on it, is being tested by forensic scientists, according to reports in South Africa. If the blood is that of Miss Steenkamp, it would strengthen the prosecution case for premeditated murder, sources said. If it came from Pistorius, police would argue that the model used it to defend herself.A post mortem examination on the body of the 29-year-old model revealed that, as well as bullet wounds to the head, arm, hand and hip, she suffered a fractured skull, the City Press newspaper reported.Pistorius, 26, who faces a bail hearing tomorrow, told an interviewer last year that he kept a cricket bat behind his door, along with a pistol by his bedside and a machinegun under his window.His family have insisted that he shot at Miss Steenkamp through the bathroom door of his home in Pretoria, believing her to be an intruder.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

Johannesburg - The family of Reeva Steenkamp said on Sunday that her body was back in her hometown of Port Elizabeth.

The model and reality TV contestant was shot dead inside the house of Oscar Pistorius. A private funeral will be held on Tuesday.

Adam Steenkamp, the brother of Pistorius's late girlfriend, told The Associated Press: “Reeva is back home.”

The family said that Steenkamp, who was shot multiple times and killed at the athlete's home early on Thursday, will be cremated in a ceremony closed to the public and the media in the southern coastal city.

Pistorius was charged with her murder and is expected to make a second court appearance - also on Tuesday - for the start of his bail hearing. He remains in custody in a police station in Pretoria ahead of that hearing.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

Oscar Pistorius murder charge: bloodied cricket bat 'central piece of evidence against him'The discovery of a bloodied cricket bat has reportedly been cited by authorities as "the central piece of evidence", forming a "rock solid" case that Oscar Pistorius murdered his model girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine's Day.

::snipping2::According to a source cited by City Press, Miss Steenkamp was wearing a nightdress, an overnight bag was found at the house and her iPad was on the bedroom floor.“It was clear that both of them had slept in the bed,” the source added.The holster of a 9mm pistol similar to the weapon recovered by police was found on one side of the bed, the paper said. A bullet casing was also reportedly found in the bedroom and police are investigating whether Pistorius fired one shot and then “chased” Miss Steenkamp to the bathroom. ::snipping2::

OHANNESBURG (AP) — The family of Oscar Pistorius' slain girlfriend wants answers, her mother told a Johannesburg newspaper as the country waited to hear for the first time why prosecutors believe the iconic athlete murdered Reeva Steenkamp by shooting her multiple times on Valentine's Day morning.June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, told the Times in a front page interview: "Why? Why my little girl? Why did this happen? Why did he do this?""Just like that she is gone," the paper quoted her as saying in what it described as an emotional telephone interview. "In the blink of an eye and a single breath, the most beautiful person who ever lived is no longer here."Pistorius, who remains in custody in a red-brick, one-story police station in Pretoria, is set to return to court Tuesday for the start of his bail hearing. That hearing will be the first opportunity for the prosecution to describe evidence police gathered against the 26-year-old double-amputee runner and the reasons why he was charged with murder. ::snipping2::

Oscar Pistorius denied that he "committed murder in the strongest point" and told how Reeva Steenkamp "died in my arms" after the track star was charged Tuesday with premeditated murder that could lead to him serving a life sentence in prison.

Oscar Pistorius, center with head covered, leaves the Brooklyn Police Station. (AP)The athlete known as the Blade Runner released an affidavit read by his defense counsel Barry Roux at his bail hearing in a South African court after a prosecutor accused him of murdering Steenkamp while she was "unarmed, innocent and sitting in a toilet."Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics, appeared distraught as Roux read his comments and had to be asked to compose himself by chief magistrate Desmond Nair. ::snipping2::

His version of the tragic events of the early hours of Valentine's Day morning were that he had left the bed he and Steenkamp shared to get fresh air on his balcony. According to the affidavit, as he came back inside he became aware of a noise from the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder, and put on stumps instead of his prosthetic legs. Pistorius said he felt vulnerable without his prosthetics and was also worried because the window in the bathroom did not have burglar bars. ::snipping2::

The Olympic and Paralympic athlete stared fixedly at the floor, sobbing occasionally, as a senior detective investigator described the scene when officers arrived at the house in the early hours of Valentine's Day.Pistorius wore a black suit and blue tie on the second day of a hearing that will decide whether he would be bailed over charges that the shooting of the model was premeditated.Witnesses heard a "non-stop" argument at the home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius shortly before he fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, prosecutors told a South African court Wednesday.Shouting was heard for an hour from the sprinter's home in a Pretoria suburb around 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, prosecutors said.A detective also testified that needles and testosterone were found in the athlete's bedroom. The double-amputee's defense disputed the claim, saying the substance was in fact a herbal remedy. ::snipping2::None of the phones found at Pistorius' house had been used to call police, the investigators said.The investigator said Steenkamp's body was clothed and covered in towels, and that one bullet cartridge was discovered in the hallway of Pistorius' home, with three more found in the bathroom. A firearm was found on the shower mat.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

Detective Hilton Botha made the acknowledgement under questioning from the Olympic runner's defense team Wednesday, on the second day of his bail hearing in Pretoria. The hearing is set to continue Thursday. ::snipping2::

The magistrate overseeing the hearing ruled Tuesday that premeditation cannot be excluded in the case, but that the charge could be downgraded later. Premeditated murder carries a possible lifetime prison sentence.

Investigators have said Steenkamp was shot by a 9-millimeter pistol registered to Pistorius.

Her family held a private funeral Tuesday in Port Elizabeth, while the hearing was taking place. ::snipping2::

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

The State is confident about its murder case against paralympian Oscar Pistorius, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday.nvestigating officer Hilton Botha had not been "discredited" by the defence’s examination earlier in the day, NPA spokesman Medupi Simasiku told reporters in Pretoria.

"It is normal for the cross-examination to happen like that. We believe that he [Botha] is strong enough to stand that [examination]," said Simasiku.

"The bail application is still on, but as the State we remain confident that we will get what we want. Until tomorrow [when the bail application resumes], the status quo remains the same."

The State is opposing Pistorius' application for bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

On Wednesday, advocate Barry Roux accused the police of contaminating the scene while investigating the St Valentine’s Day shooting of Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He accused Botha of walking around the house, in Pretoria, without protective shoe covers.

Botha said he should have worn them, "but they were not around".

Roux again asked Botha if there was nothing in Pistorius' statement that was inconsistent with the scene.

"Yes, at this stage," said Botha. ::snipping2::Pistorius was arrested early on Thursday morning after his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in his home at Silver Woods country estate. He was charged with murder on Friday.

The State intends arguing that Steenkamp’s murder was pre-meditated. ::snipping2::In the 10-page affidavit read to the court by Roux, Pistorius denied the murder allegation "in the strongest terms".

"I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder, as I had no intention to kill my girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp," he said.

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Prosecutors reinstated attempted murder charges against a policeman leading the murder investigation into world-famous athlete Oscar Pistorius, in the latest twist in a case that has captivated South Africa and threatens to bring down a national idol.

The announcement that detective Hilton Botha faces reinstated charges in connection with a 2011 shooting incident came a day after he testified for the prosecution in Pistorius' bail hearing, and by all accounts bungled his appearance. He acknowledged Wednesday that nothing in Pistorius' account of the fatal Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend contradicted what police had discovered.

The spokeswoman for the nation's prosecutors urged that Botha be removed from the Pistorius case.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

Oscar Pistorius's bail application in the Reeva Steenkamp murder case has been postponed for the third time till tomorrow by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

Earlier, State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that Pistorius failed to provide exceptional circumstances why he should be granted bail. Nel says Steenkamp was defenceless when she was fatally shot inside a toilet. He says no court will ever accept that Pistorius acted in self-defence.

Nel has argued that that even on Pistorius’ own version, there was no imminent danger in the bedroom whatsoever. Nel says, Pistorius never woke Steenkamp up and asked her if she had heard an intruder. According to Nel, these were the actions of a man ready to arm himself and kill.

Arguing against Pistorius statement in the affidavit that he felt vulnerable, Nels says this can’t be true since Pistorius stormed the bathroom.

Nel also did not rule out the possibility that Pistorius had orchestrated the scene to his benefit.

In a dramatic day, investigating officer, Hilton Botha was himself implicated in an attempted murder case after he shot at the wheels of fleeing taxi. The court also had to be evacuated briefly after a security threat. More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

Is it possible to imagine a story more bizarre than that of Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic sprinter with no legs who shot his model girlfriend dead on Valentine’s Day only to be charged with premeditated murder by a police officer who, it turned out Thursday, is himself facing imminent trial on seven counts of attempted murder? As Pistorius’ application for bail entered its fourth day at Pretoria Magistrates Court Thursday, South African Police Service National Commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega confirmed that the lead police investigator, Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, would face his own trial in May with two other officers.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

(Reuters) - South African police investigating Oscar Pistorius for murder pulled their lead detective off the "Blade Runner" athlete's case on Thursday after it emerged he himself faces attempted murder charges for shooting at a minibus.

Battling embarrassment in the glare of a global media spotlight, they named the nation's most senior detective to take over, as preliminary hearings to decide whether the Olympic and Paralympic star can go free on bail were adjourned until Friday. ::snipping2::"From this point forward, I will take over," Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo told Reuters. A 32-year veteran of the force, he added: "It will not affect the court proceedings."

Charges against Warrant Office Botha over the taxi minibus shooting had been dropped but the National Prosecuting Authority told Reuters they were reinstated on February 4 - 10 days before Pistorius shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria home.

"The decision to reinstate was taken on February 4, way before the issue of Pistorius came to light or the murder of Reeva was committed," NPA spokesman Medupe Simasiku told Reuters. "It's completely unrelated to this trial."

It is not clear whether the dismissal of Botha would affect the athlete's chances of securing release from custody pending his trial. After a fourth day of bail hearings, the judge said the court would sit again on the matter on Friday.More...

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

PRETORIA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Star South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was awarded bail on Friday after being accused of murdering his girlfriend.The decision by Magistrate Desmond Nair drew cheers from Pistorius' family and supporters at the Pretoria magistrate's court, although the athlete appeared unmoved as the decision was read out.The decision followed a week of dramatic testimony about how the athlete shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his luxury home near Pretoria in the early hours of Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.Prosecutors said Pistorius, 26, committed premeditated murder when he fired four shots into a locked bathroom door, hitting his girlfriend cowering on the other side. Steenkamp, 29, suffered gunshot wounds to her head, hip and arm. ::snipping2::

Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail and will be freed from custody pending his trial in the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair announced his decision Friday after four days of arguments from prosecution and defense in Pistorius' bail hearing, and after spending about one hour and 45 minutes announcing his decision.

Nair said Pistorius' affidavit, in which he gave his version of the events of the shooting on morning of Feb. 14 in a sworn statement, had helped his application for bail in Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

Nair set the bail at $113,000, with $11,300 in cash and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said.

Loving Natalee - Beth HollowayPage 219: I have to make difficult choices every day. I have to make a conscious decision every morning when I wake up not to be bitter, not to live in resentment and let anger control me. It's not easy. I ask God to help me._____

“A person of integrity expects to be believed and when he’s not, he let’s time prove him right.” -unknown

In South Africa bail is seldom granted in cases where the charge of the prosecution is premeditation murder. Nevertheless ... in today's ruling the judge affords bail to Oscar Pistorius without citing any "exceptional" reason/s.

Considering there is no jury system in South Africa ... considering the judge ultimately renders the verdict ... could it be that the writing is already on the wall in regards to the outcome?

But in an affidavit read in court, Pistorius said he was deeply in love with Steenkamp and denied any intent to kill her. “I know she felt the same way," he said in the document.

As the affidavit was read, Pistorius wept so bitterly that Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair had to halt the proceedings to allow the athlete time to compose himself.

But in a major blow for Pistorius, Nair agreed with the prosecution, ruling that for the purposes of Tuesday's bail hearing the charge against Pistorius was premeditated murder, a decision that will make it difficult for him to be granted bail.

Under South African law, those charged with a category six offense, the most serious category, must show exceptional circumstances as to why they should be released on bail.

Loving Natalee - Beth HollowayPage 219: I have to make difficult choices every day. I have to make a conscious decision every morning when I wake up not to be bitter, not to live in resentment and let anger control me. It's not easy. I ask God to help me._____

“A person of integrity expects to be believed and when he’s not, he let’s time prove him right.” -unknown

Loving Natalee - Beth HollowayPage 219: I have to make difficult choices every day. I have to make a conscious decision every morning when I wake up not to be bitter, not to live in resentment and let anger control me. It's not easy. I ask God to help me._____

“A person of integrity expects to be believed and when he’s not, he let’s time prove him right.” -unknown